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*NEW* BEARTek Bluetooth Motorcycle Gloves

BEARTek Bluetooth Motorcycle glove

BEARTek Motorcycle glove

Finally! Real Control!

How many times have you fumbled with managing your music or incoming calls while wearing gloves?

We wear gloves to protect us. We listen to music to entertain us. If we want to do both, then we have a problem. Your phone is tucked neatly away, and the gloves make it difficult to quickly retrieve it. Now, you don't have to.

Using Bluetooth and our patent-pending glove technologies, you can easily control your music and phone calls by simply touching your fingers together. Answer that call, and leave the phone in your pocket!

We believe gloves shouldn't limit you while protecting you - they should empower you.

How It Works

In the simplest explanation, you "Pair it and Wear it".

Pair with your smartphone

Wear the glove like any other glove

To control the music and calls, just touch the thumb to the appropriate touchpoint on your finger.

What Can I Control?

Apps

Music

Pandora

Spotify

iHeartRadio

Slacker Radio

Phone Functions

Voice Command

Devices

iPhones 3G and newer

Androids

Your Bluetooth sound delivery system (headset/helmet)

Design

Professional gloves

Our gloves have the features you would expect in high-end off the shelf gloves. We insisted on exceptional construction, high tensile strength nylon thread stitching, soft brushed fleece interior lining and all of the other features you see listed under the specifications

Modularity

We've designed BEARTek gloves to be affordable and interchangeable. Our goal is to give the wearer control, quality, and accessibility without breaking their bank. Own one BEARTek Bluetooth module and you can use it in all of your BEARTek gloves, regardless of sport or activity.

Safety

While we choose not to 'claim' that we make you safer, we do believe that if you're going to listen to music during intense (or not-so-intense) activities, instant control over that music is critical. There are times when you NEED to take/make that call right away. We're proud to be able to offer you that control.

Bluetooth Technology

We chose this technology primarily due to it's widespread acceptance and ability to control the functions necessary for a fantastic experience.

The Blue Infusion Story

Blue Infusion Technologies was founded in 2010 based on an idea the founder (Willie Blount) came up with years before. As a motorcycle rider, he had challenges controlling his music and knew how he would solve them - by infusing control into his hand... no, glove.

Willie built his very first prototype by hand, from gloves he retrofitted and Bluetooth kits he bought online. It worked - he showed it around, received positive responses, then established the company.

Tarik Rodgers (partner) came on board after learning of the product. As a skier, he has experienced the exact same problems as Willie and was excited to be a part of this solution.

Since then, the company has assembled a fantastic team of professional glove designers (with previous clients such as Yamaha, Gorgonz, Harley Davidson, Burton, and Olympia - just to name a few) , electronic engineers, and even a University of Maryland graduate student to help create the best possible product.

Specifications

Bluetooth integrated controls allows user to control smartphone while riding

6 Signal Touchpoints

Lock/Unlock feature

1 Activation Touchpoint

Leather palm and fingertips

Nylon wrist strap

Elastic wrist closure with slide lock

Waterproof pockets for Bluetooth Module and storage

Motorcycle Glove

Bluetooth integrated controls allows user to control smartphone while riding

6 Signal Touchpoints

Lock/Unlock feature

1 Activation Touchpoint

Carbon Fiber Knuckles

Pre-Curved Fingers

High tensile strength nylon thread stitching used throughout

High impact or use areas are all double stitched

Where We Are Now

Development work is near complete

We have fantastic working prototypes, great designs, factories (who have already made our prototypes and currently make gloves for VERY well-known companies) on standby, and a whole lotta excitement and drive.

Your contribution will help us fund

Final tooling

Minimum required order quantities

Finalizing software tweaks

Assembly and delivery

The Reward System

Reward Details?:

We are already in the process of ordering the EARLY BIRD rewards. Sure, it costs us a little more, but you're our first backers and you deserve it. The limitation of the Early Bird is we had to order early to get these gloves to you as fast as possible. Because of that the only sizes available to Early Birds are large and small and the left hand glove active. At the conclusion of the campaign, we will deliver the completed product and prototype (working) Bluetooth modules to our backers. We're hoping you'll have them before December 24th, but we've committed to January just in case something odd happens. If for some wacky reason the gloves aren't ready, we'll send you a fun little card with lots of detailed information about the gloves which you can deliver if this is indeed a holiday gift.

All other rewards will be ordered at the conclusion of the campaign with product continually made in the USA as long as the factory can keep up with the demand. We have already lined up manufacturing resources for all scenarios.

What's in a Kit?

A standard kit contains 1 PAIR of BEARTek gloves and 1 Bluetooth Module. The backer will choose which hand he wants to be 'active'. The other glove will be a BEARTek 'passive' glove. The active glove is the one outfitted with all of the capabilities to control devices. The passive glove has a pocket for storage in the gauntlet, but does not control external devices.

For those backers who would like an active/active configuration, just add $30 to your pledge so we can outfit the other glove with the technology. This means you can use the Bluetooth module in either glove at any time... not both at the same time (unless you have two modules).

A kit will retail from $175 - $200.

Signature Series:

For our Signature Level backers, we will go through a process of developing gloves with as many as your own design elements as we can. This would require meetings on skype and other methods of collaboration. The gloves would be available for sale on www.beartekgloves.com and potentially in retail stores. Just imagine "The Your Name Signature Series".

Many thanks goes out to

Our backers and these teams

Risks and challenges

The risks and challenges are great, as with any project, and we're equipped to mitigate and overcome them. For a series of reasons, we opted to have as much manufacturing completed here in the USA, not the least of which is that it should reduce the risks and challenges of manufacturing a product. One of the by-products of this decision is a slightly more expensive product.

Building products overseas (as many are) carries a plethora of risks and challenges. We have relations with several really fantastic manufacturers overseas, but the winter gloves delivered in this campaign will all be made in the USA. Due to the locality of assembly, management of the factory will be more hands-on and thus pro-active and more effective. Additionally, there will be no need to wait for the gloves to travel from China to the USA.

The electronic modules will be assembled in the USA as well, although we have to source some parts from overseas. The suppliers are aware and ready for our orders and know exactly what we need when we order. A distinct possibility is a shortage of parts from one or more suppliers. In that case, we'll certainly let our backers know immediately the expected time frame for delivery.

Even when you know what you want, and the manufacturers know what you need, sometimes things go wrong. To mitigate the risks of poor communication, misunderstandings, and timing issues, we have ensured that our team includes highly experienced engineers (total over 40 years) who have very successfully managed supply chains, manufacturing, and distribution in both the apparel and electronics industries. The manufacturers we have partnered with have long relationships with our team and we are capitalizing on those relationships to bring our product to life. Our manufacturers know exactly what to build for us and have made all of our latest prototypes. We've tested other manufacturers and they haven't passed our tests. These specifically selected manufacturers also build products for well known American and other companies.

Quality control is always a key challenge when it comes to larger quantities of distribution. We will be physically testing each and every glove delivered in this campaign for stitching, assembly, and accuracy. Our Bluetooth module testing process will follow rigorous testing procedures established by our team and our local electronics contract manufacturer.

Finally, going over budget is risk. Tarik is a wizard with financials and our accountant is brilliant - this team knows how to make it happen on or under budget. Still, we've set our funding goal to include unexpected financial strains and we are funded enough to handle any given problems. Finally, the principals of our team really believe in this product and are fully prepared to fill the void if we end up with a surprise which needs to be managed.

FAQ

Rewards

Pledge $1 or more

SUPPORTER - Even $1 is valuable to us! Thank you for your support. Find your name on our website!

Estimated delivery:Dec 2012

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

14 backers

THANK YOU - Every backer counts. You're a part of the engine which is helping our product launch. Find your name on our website!
Receive a frame-able "Blue Infusion Kickstarter Backer Certificate"

Estimated delivery:Dec 2012

You selected

Pledge $150 or more

33 backers

BACKER - One Pair Winter BEARTek gloves and Final Bluetooth Control Module.
Receive a frame-able "Kickstarter Original Backer" certificate. Name on our website as a supporter with a link to your Facebook, LinkedIn, or other social networking page.

Pledge $240 or more

Pledge $250 or more

EARLY BIRD - One Pair Winter BEARTek gloves, Original Bluetooth Module and V1.1 Bluetooth Control Module.

GET THE VERY FIRST GLOVES! MADE IN THE USA!!!

Receive a frame-able "First-Responder, Blue Infusion Kickstarter Backer Certificate". Name on our website as a supporter with a link to your Facebook, LinkedIn, or other social networking page.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $340 or more

1 backer

COMBO EARLY BIRD - Same as $250 reward, plus Motorcycle glove.

Estimated delivery:Apr 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $2,000 or more

0 backers
Limited (20 left of 20)

GOLD LEVEL CONTRIBUTOR - One Pair of Winter or Motorcycle BEARTek gloves, Original Bluetooth Module and V1.1 Bluetooth Control Module (in April). Get the very first gloves! MADE IN THE USA!!!

Recognition as a TOP LEVEL SUPPORTER as appropriate in public displays. Receive an official Blue Infusion "Gold Level Supporter" Plaque.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $10,000

0 backers
Limited (5 left of 5)

SIGNATURE LEVEL BACKER - One Pair of Winter or Motorcycle BEARTek gloves, Original Bluetooth Module, and V1.1 Bluetooth Control Module (in April). Get the very first gloves! MADE IN THE USA!!!
Recognition as a TOP LEVEL SUPPORTER as appropriate in public displays. A Signature, Custom BEARTek Glove design and color will be created with your input and direction - and your signature! The first completed creation of that signature series glove will be delivered to you with an "Official BEARTek Signature Design" plaque for your limited edition, signature series gloves.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

Funding period

Nov 12, 2012 - Dec 14, 2012
(32 days)

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